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What are the Different Methods of Body Whitening?

Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt

As many people in the Western world subscribe to the practice of darkening their skin to achieve beauty, in the Eastern hemisphere it is common to desire whiter skin. Body whitening can be achieved through a variety of means. Skin bleaching, using peroxide whitening, and other cosmetic whitening techniques can be used to lighten the skin.

Whitening usually is achieved by blocking the body's production of melanin, the skin's pigmentation. Some soaps have been invented to help lighten the skin. Known as bleaching soaps, they are often made from natural fruit extracts, such as papaya, or herbal formulas. Black licorice is a popular skin lightening soap additive.

Beauty capsules, or skin whitening pills, are also sold to help achieve body whitening. Most of these list glutathione as their active ingredient, sometimes among others. An antioxidant, glutathione may help lighten skin when taken in high doses.

Body whitening cream.
Body whitening cream.

Several chemical processes can be executed for body whitening. Chemical peels, laser resurfacing, surgical treatments, botox, and other procedures have been used to help lighten the skin. Body bleaching products, also known as skin bleaching products, are sometimes used as well.

Skin lightening lotion, or skin whitening cream, is available for purchase in beauty stores. Also known as skin brighteners, fade creams, or skin lighteners, these products often help remove dark spots, lighten overall skin tone, and even discoloration patterns. Some common cream ingredients include mulberry extract, bear berry extract, Alpha-Arbutin, lemon juice extract, kojic acid, and emblica powder.

Lemons can lighten darker areas on the skin over a period of time.
Lemons can lighten darker areas on the skin over a period of time.

Ingredients like mercury should be avoided in order to prevent harm to the body. Some creams may contain other potentially harmful substances, such as hydroquinone, which may damage the liver, and has been linked to cancer. Skin lightening products may also contain steroids. People who wish to lighten their skin should check labels and use caution before making a purchase.

Dry orange peels can be used to whiten skin.
Dry orange peels can be used to whiten skin.

Many natural, safe whitening methods also exist. Body whitening can be achieved by refraining from commercial tanning, wearing sunblock, or avoiding ultraviolet rays in nature. Keeping the skin covered, moisturized, and clean can also help people maintain a light, smooth complexion. Drinking plenty of water may help as well.

Some people like to use lemons at home for skin whitening. Though the acidic fruits can help whiten skin over several weeks of use, they can cause burning, dryness, and irritation as well. Dry orange peels, milk, almonds, sandalwood powder, and many other kitchen ingredients have been used for body whitening with varying degrees of success.

Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt

A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Sara has a Master’s Degree in English, which she puts to use writing for WiseGEEK and several magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She has published her own novella, and has other literary projects currently in progress. Sara’s varied interests have also led her to teach children in Spain, tutor college students, run CPR and first aid classes, and organize student retreats.

Learn more...
Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt

A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Sara has a Master’s Degree in English, which she puts to use writing for WiseGEEK and several magazines, websites, and nonprofit organizations. She has published her own novella, and has other literary projects currently in progress. Sara’s varied interests have also led her to teach children in Spain, tutor college students, run CPR and first aid classes, and organize student retreats.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon319870

I heard that best way to whiten skin is licorice Of course hydroquone is also effective, but with lots of side effects.

anon288396

Water is very good for your skin. Six to eight glasses of water will help keep the skin moist so it makes your skin fresh and supple. Water beneficial to reduce wrinkles and blemishes on the face. Water is perfect to get perfect skin.

amysamp

@geekish - From what I have read about the body whitening lotions (though I must say I have not tried them); they make fabulous purchases if you want the soft skin, and it may have some effect after weeks of use of evening out an uneven tan (but wouldn't two weeks even without lotion have that effect?).

But for me, I would try that before I would try some of the other types of skin bleaching methods!

geekish

While I am not necessarily looking to become whiter, I found it very interesting that other cultures try to maintain porcelain skin, that is almost as interesting as when I found out in a few areas the culture is to have large women and skinny men - and the women have a special diet to achieve their voluptuousness!

How different that is from the advertisements I see everywhere!

Anyway, I appreciate the ideas here to try and make my now sun damaged skin from playing much too many sports outdoors while having sweat off my sunblock.

Has anybody tried a body whitening lotion? Does it help sun-damaged and wrinkled skin like mine, look a little more softer and younger?

Oceana

My aunt was born with circular brown birthmarks on several areas of her body. My mother told me about some natural methods she used to try and lighten the spots.

She would squeeze lemon juice on them while sitting in the bathtub. The juice irritated her skin. It burned, but she left it on there in hopes that it would rid her of her marks.

After a lemon treatment, she needed something to soothe the burn. She had heard that milk could help whiten skin, so she would take a milk bath to relieve the irritation.

Despite her efforts, she only saw a slight lightening of the spots. Really, they were just too brown to bleach with juice and milk.

StarJo

My friend from China lives here in America now, but she brought her cultural ideas with her, and though bodies all around her keep getting darker, she desires to maintain her fair skin. She uses a whitening body lotion that needs to be applied every day.

This lotion offers some degree of UV protection to prevent even slight unwanted tanning. It is very creamy, so it works well to moisturize her dry skin, giving it a milkier appearance.

She is used to staying indoors to avoid the sun, so I can’t get her to come to the lake with me. Even though her lotion serves as a sunscreen, she is afraid to even walk around outside for thirty minutes.

lighth0se33

I had a lot of scars on my face from acne and from the chickenpox I got as a child. My Asian friend offered to let me use her body whitening cream, but since it is intended to whiten large areas, I declined.

I found a cream containing hydroquinone that was meant to be applied only on spots that needed whitening. In fact, the label cautioned against using this product over large areas of skin. So, this was perfect for what I needed.

I kept applying the cream to the scars until I got a degree of lightness that matched the surrounding skin. I was glad the cream gave me control of that, because having a bunch of white spots would have been nearly as bad as having the dark spots.

wavy58

I had never heard of a body whitening treatment before! Here in America, society tells you that white skin is a bad thing. Maybe I should move to another hemisphere! They would love me over there.

Personally, I have always loved my white skin. I find it looks pure, and it has a glow about it. I can understand why people would want it, though most of our nation cannot.

I would definitely think the best way to whiten your body would be to avoid getting any tan in the first place. Use a high SPF sunscreen and don’t go to the beach on sunny days. Have many shade trees in your yard so that you limit your exposure.

animegal

@wander - Lemon is an excellent way to whiten your skin, especially stubborn spots on your body. For instance, if you just have dark elbows and knees you can make a really simple whitening product at home without having to spend a fortune in store.

All you need to whiten the dark spots on your arms and legs is some sugar and fresh lemons. Get a little bowl and squeeze out the lemon juice. Mix the lemon juice with your sugar and use it to exfoliate your darker skin areas. Apparently much of the darkness on knees and elbows comes from having too much dead skin built up.

wander

Having lived in South Korea for a long time I can tell that body whitening products are a huge craze. Darker skin tones are still associated with manual labor and it is very unattractive to have a tan. Most of the Korean women I know here spend the summer hiding under a parasol and going swimming with long sleeves and pants on just to avoid getting a tan.

My Korean friends are often out shopping for whitening products and they are always telling me that things that have lemon extract in them work very well. I guess if you are looking for an easy way to whiten your skin lemon is the way to go.

sunshined

It sounds like some of the body whitening products can have chemicals and ingredients that may also have harmful effects on the skin.

I love to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. I am not nearly as interested in getting a tan as I used to be, but still like to have some color in the summer.

It is easy for me to understand getting too much sun, but I can't imagine trying to avoid it and wanting to make my skin whiter. The people who live in countries where skin whitening is accepted probably have a hard time understanding our desire to have tanned skin.

LisaLou

I find it interesting that in America we spend so much time and money on trying to have a nice tan, and in other countries they are trying to achieve just the opposite.

It reminds me of the saying that, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", and this is certainly the same thing for beautiful skin.

I think it is more important to make sure you have healthy skin. I use a body moisturizer every day to keep my skin hydrated and soft.

When I was younger I spent a lot of time out in the sun trying to get a great tan. Now I am just trying to keep my skin young looking and make up for some of the damage I may have caused.

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    • Body whitening cream.
      By: volff
      Body whitening cream.
    • Lemons can lighten darker areas on the skin over a period of time.
      By: karuka
      Lemons can lighten darker areas on the skin over a period of time.
    • Dry orange peels can be used to whiten skin.
      Dry orange peels can be used to whiten skin.
    • Almonds can be rubbed on the skin for whitening.
      By: Elenathewise
      Almonds can be rubbed on the skin for whitening.
    • Papaya extracts can be used for body whitening.
      By: anjelagr
      Papaya extracts can be used for body whitening.
    • Extracts from the mulberry tree may be used to make skin lightening projects.
      By: vodolej
      Extracts from the mulberry tree may be used to make skin lightening projects.
    • Skin whitening cream works by reducing or suppressing the body's production of melanin.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Skin whitening cream works by reducing or suppressing the body's production of melanin.